My Sweet Granny

My sweet granny went to be with the Lord on the last day of 2020.  Trying to process it all has been a mixture of emotions.  I am so happy for her, but so sad for us for not having her here anymore.  I know she has been longing to go to heaven for some time, so she is rejoicing and I know one day we will be reunited.  

I could write a book on what I've learned from my Granny, but here is just a small sample of what she has taught me over the years.  

-Be careful to take care of what you have.

-Be frugal and live simply, content with what you are given.

-Be someone that keeps their word.  If Granny said she would do something she would make sure she would follow through.  

-Be humble with quiet grace.

-Be fair.  Try to be equal.

-Be a woman that recognizes that her most important work is done in the home.

-Be someone that doesn't hang onto the past, forgives, and looks ahead to better days.

-Be committed to the church.

-Be a prayer warrior, fervently praying for family and others.

-Be a life long learner of the Word. 

-Be a Titus 2 woman: reverent in behavior, encouraging others, loving their family, honoring the Word of God.

-Be a Christ follower who is always longing for heaven.  That's where my Granny is rejoicing now.

I am so thankful to have this testimony of Granny.  When I was in a small bible study group, we read, studied, and discussed the book "Adorned" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, based on the scripture from Titus 2.  As I read the book, I was reminded of my Granny in so many ways, so I got her a copy of the book.  When we did this study at church, I knew I wanted her to share for this chapter in particular.  I know it was out of her comfort zone, but she shared and many were blessed.  I wanted her copy of this book to keep, and sobbed when I got it.  She had taped the letter I had written her inside it and had kept many letters from me and the boys.  

Laurine Bumbalough Terry was born on April 16, 1936 in Sparta to the late James (Cone) and Maggie Sliger Bumbalough.  She has three siblings: Willard, Haggard, and Gylene. 

In 1951, Laurine and Phil began going steady.  They were married on August 8, 1954 at Hickory Valley Methodist/Presbyterian Church. 

They began their family in 1956 and were blessed with three girls.  Debra Elaine Terry was born on April 12, 1956.  Phylene Terry was born on September 2, 1958.  Lissa Michelle Terry was born on September 24, 1967. 

Granny was employed at Federal Mogul (Wagner) from 1974-2003.

Their family continue to grow to 6 grandchildren:  Rus (Dawn) Stewart, Rachel (Michael) Billingsley, Terri (Landon) Dickerson, Michaela (Roggie) Haston, Casey (Ryan) Qualls, and Joah (Patty) Simmons.

15 Great Grandchildren and 5 Great-Great Grandchildren

She was an avid gardener.  She found joy in growing, harvesting, and enjoying the fruits of her labor by canning jellies and vegetables and making apple pies.  She took pride in her home and yard.  She did not leave a corner untouched; each bursting with a variety of flowers.  She loved any flower that bloomed and was known from growing ferns that were unrivaled.  She worked hard to bring her dream of a decorative pond and foundation to life.  She, as well as passersby, enjoyed its beauty for many years. 

Granny's fern secret:  For two ferns, mix 1/2 cup epson salt with 2 gallons of water and miracle grow once per week (done on separate days). 

Laurine radiated love and sought to bring joy to all she knew.  She eagerly anticipated ways to ensure her loved ones felt special each time she saw them.  She has a way of making the ordinary feel magical.  Yet, her servant's heart did not stop at earthly deeds.  Her deepest desire was to love the Lord and to live in a manner that pointed others toward Him.  She prayed fervently for her family, her friends, and her neighbors and continually petitioned the Father on their behalf.  Her Bible was left brimming with notes and prayers for her loved ones.  She poured out her heart before the Lord...humbly, earnestly, and faithfully.

We were blessed to have had five generations alive at one time.  This is rare to have, and I doubt I will see it again in my lifetime.  

In 2016, Granny was so sweet to come over to our house and play and occupy Lane so I could do school with the other two boys.  She also made treats with them all and they always looked forward to days with Granny.  During this time, she also put together a cookbook for me.  

Granny's service was beautiful and perfect.  I think she would have been pleased, but she probably would have been upset at the tears.  Some of my last conversations I had were difficult to understand what she was saying because she was on oxygen and so weak.  What I could make out from her was..."Remember what I said...at the graveside, no tears, only happy memories."  

Several shared stories and memories about Granny:

I loved watching my Granny pull up to get us in her blue Mustang.  It didn't have seat belts, so we felt big. We ( Kella, Joah, and I) always wanted to be the ones to sit on "the horse" in the back, which was a hump in the floorboard in between the two back seats.

Granny always had something to say and a story to tell.  She made everything she did sound fun and interesting.  When she called me and asked what I had been up to, I would usually say, "oh not much."  Granny would then start to tell me everything she had done that day.  Whether it was cleaning out her car and pressure washing her vinyl siding, or hanging nearly upside down with her feet hooked to a rock so she could clean out her pond, she made everything she did sound exciting!  Granny was fun!  She made life fun!

She worked hard, loved intentionally, made everyone around her feel special and cared for, and constantly thought of ways to give or be of help to others.  Granny was patient and careful to always devote her attention to little ones making them feel noticed and loved beyond measure while at the same time spending time giving words of encouragement and advice to us.  She was a solid rock for me with her faith.  There was never a visit that she didn't mention a bible verse she had read, a sermon she had heard, a hard life lesson she had learned, or the prayers that she had spoken over the entire family.  I watched her, I listened to her, I admired her.  I cannot count all the ways that I learned from my Granny.  She has planted seeds of love and wisdom in my heart since I was born.  I'm just one person.  I have no doubt that all the seeds she planted in the lives she encountered in 84 years would grow the biggest garden in the world.

---Casey Qualls

It's an honor, my honor, to be allowed to share a story about Mrs. Terry, "Granny T," "Mrs. Laurine" as I referred to her, but often just called her granny...my name is Joe Cloyd "Joey" still to most and most importantly to granny.  I knew of Mrs. Terry all my life, but I truly was blessed to truly know her, love her and be loved by her these last few years, and my oh my...what an honor it has been to get to know her.  My cousin, Mike Cloyd, is married to Lissa Terry Cloyd, Mrs. Laurine's youngest daughter.  I was fortunate to work for Mike for 4-5 years a few years back and through this relationship I got to know and love Granny T!  What an honor it was to know her!  I could go on with many tales, many laughs we shared!  But for respect of others I'll try to be concise.  She cooked many suppers for me, Mike, and Lissa over the years.  We would visit, laugh, and she always talked about God, prayed while we visited.  Oh, I'd learn something about God that I didn't previously know.  One lesson will always stick in my mind and it is this.  I was just a few years into recovery, came home to Sparta, home after many years in the army and went away from my childhood home, beat down by my action.  I came back to the faith I knew as a child.  One could say much like the prodigal son...sort of.  Anyway, one visit I was sharing a "burden," a worry I'd had about something again I'd had only a few years "clean and sober."  I said to Mrs. Laurine, told her what was afflicting me.  She said in a direct but kind way, "Joey, that is what is called a condition."  I'd heard that but likened it to when I got saved I said.  She said, "Joey, conviction is with you all your life.  It's not coincidence.  Even sinners have those but conviction isn't just for when you get saved.  It's for a lifetime!" I pondered some more on this "burden" wasn't drinking, or drugging, or illegal for that fact, but it did bother me.  I shared with her this, and she said this is the key...the moral of the story I learned on granny's porch a few years ago and it's never left me.  Again I shared it recently.  "Uh hmm," she said.  "Joey, if that bothers you, its a conviction and if it convicts you, bothers you, stirs your heart, your soul and spirit, then I'd not do it.  "Hmm," I said, "Well, Granny, it's not a sin."  She says, "It is if it bothers you."  Lol.  I said, "Well I can't find where God says anything about it."  She said, "God's saying something to you about it now or your heart would not be trouble.  I would not do it.  And it's also God's way of assuring you that you are His child.  Read about Paul and what he says about it, but if you don't believe me, but rest assured you are His or He wouldn't trouble your heart."  "So I'm delighted," she said, "that you're  convicted about this. If you wasn't I'd sure be worried about your soul."  So to this day, I don't do what convicted me.  She taught me this.  ---Joe "Joey" Cloyd   

Rachel shared, "Granny was an amazing woman of God that loved deeply, lived greatly and walked in faith and was very wise.  I honestly cannot imagine living a day in this life without her, yet here we are.  And I am not sure how we live without her graceful presence with us.  She loved her family more than anything in this world and often bragged about them.  Nothing was more important to her except God.  She loved listening to Dr. Charles Stanley and watching Dr. David Jeremiah.  She found comfort in reading her Bible and listening to her worship music.  She was always ready to advise you on life based on her understanding of the Bible.  I valued her heart, her time and her conversations.  She was a classy lady, dressed impeccably and always had a million dollar smile.  My granny was a granny of grace, subtly and most important love.  To know her is to love her.  She made everyone feel at ease and always making you feel loved, even if it was in the smallest of things.  Sending notes of encouragement, phone calls, concerns or big hugs when you were with her.  I cherish the last ten years as we have grown closer.  I wouldn't trace a second of any adventure that we have had (and we have had many).  We have shared many secrets, many tears and much laughter.  I would love to hear her laugh just one more time.  No words will ever describe the void she has left in the lives of all of us but she wants us to celebrate the life she lived and the legacy she leaves.  A legacy of love, faithful servanthood, and faith and trust in God.  Unwavering strength, cheerful giving and deep love.  That was Granny.

You are finally home for where you were created.  We are blessed to have walked this life with you.  I am proud to call you my Granny.